Monday Goals

Time for goals. I'm still in MN, and not sure when I'm going home.

1. Bind the baby quilt
2. Load another quilt on the long arm
3. Sew 9 patches into a top
4. Sew next sashing on Sonja's Windows
5. Pull out of UFO and work on it

There are enough things for goals to keep me busy this week. Have you thought about goals for this week?

Sunday Stash Report

I haven't anything new to report. Nothing bought, I didn't finish anything. Still -60 yards. I will have to work harder!!

I'm in Mankato with Laura Beth, Nick, and Mason. Ahhh! Mason is walking. Into everything.


Grandpa bought me a new outfit.


And I had a "Mason sized" Halloween cupcake.

And what does Grandma find so interesting about this little silver box??


Yesterday I was in Kasson MN. Yes, I took my camera, and completely forgot to take pictures. But Mary did a good job, go to the blog and see what we did. It was a great time, I ALWAYS enjoy these sewing sessions. And yes Julia--I wore my favorite orange sweatshirt!

I went shopping the night before to buy a stem and some leaves, I was going to come in costume Sheree--as a pumpkin! (Sheree had joked around that we should come in costume!) Anyone can host a sew in, it can be just a few people--so watch out Linda and Julia, and all the Nebraska Ladies whom I'm SORRY I can't remember all your names! I have PLENTY of room, you want to pick up Jay and come to my house? Spend the weekend? I have plenty of machines, fabric, and even a long arm. Please say yes!!

Happy Halloween!!

I'm heading to the Heartstrings Sew in at Kasson MN!

Motivation Friday

Time to check on my goals.

I finished sewing together the b/w AND the navy/white bricks and stepping stones.
Finished quilting the pastel baby quilt, next will be binding it.
I trimmed and put the narrow sashing on Sonja's Windows.

Left to right--blue with circles possible border fabric, lavender backing. Top--Navy/White bricks and stepping stones, Black/White bricks and stepping stones, pastel baby blanket. Bottom--Sonja's Windows blocks.

I have the first set of 9 patches previewing on the wall.

I didn't get the D9P's sew together. But remember, these are GOALS. It's ok if I don't make them all.

Today the camper went in storage for the winter. Its raining, so I am planning on going to the Heartstrings Sew in at Kasson MN on Saturday.

And today is a special day, it's Laura Beth's Birthday!! Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Tuesday Baking

Today I baked a couple loaves of bread. A cinnamon raisin and a buttermilk white.

I've already sampled the cinnamon raisin, delicious! Later when it's cool I'll try the white with some of that pear/orange/pineapple/cranberry/ginger jam. I've taken a couple days off from sewing, my hands are sore and swollen from peeling all those pears!

Monday Goals

Time to think on my goals.

1. Finish sewing together the b/w bricks and stepping stones rows
2. Finish quilting the pink baby quilt
3. Trim up Sonja's Windows blocks and pick out the narrow sashing
4. Sew together the pastel D9P blocks

I did get all the strips sew on Sonja's windows, and they have been sewn together and quartered. I must have had an "oops" moment, I was supposed to make 20 and there are 32. So I either make a REALLY LARGE quilt, or make 8 more blocks. I don't really like the piano key border show in the photo, with all the corner to corner lines it's maybe just a bit confusing. Maybe only on two sides? Hmm, a thought to ponder!

If I have time I may go to the Heartstrings Sew In at Kasson MN this weekend. I would be able to stay with Laura Beth and Nick, and maybe Mason would snuggle and play with me.

Pear Update

There are 5 pears left to eat "au naturel". I gave one of Ken's co-workers a dozen to eat. I processed---

• 20 pints pear butter
• 18 pints canned pears
• 10 pints spiced Christmas pears
• 22 pints/jelly jars pear/pineapple/orange/cranberry ginger jam
  

I've been eating them fresh all along. I didn't think there were that many--but that makes 70 jars of pear something!

I'm sure I will give a lot of it away at Christmas time. The jam is especially good, and I look forward to making some homemade bread to eat it on. And sorry you purists, I do like to apple or pear butter with my grits!

My pans are almost all washed, the electric roaster is soaking. I think a long soak in the tub for me is due!

Confession Sunday!!

I had a GREAT day shopping this week. I got a new pair of Levi's! (gotcha--not what you expected to read!) Truly, it was a great day shopping! See what I bought--

Levi's

and fabric

See, its a small pile of fabric!! Well, maybe not that small. 70 yards. Yes, you read right, 70 yards! But I don't regret one bit of it! You are seeing mostly backings, backgrounds, and a few sashing pieces. Not much was bought with the thought of using it for piecing. It's all quality fabric. And the best part, I figured out my cost of all this fabric---$2 yd! I even used a 60% off coupon on the bolt of blue. All the solids you see were $1.49 yd. And before you think I was the only idiot wise shopper, the place was hopping! So move over Vicky, I'm heading your way!!

Stash figures this year--I'm -60 yards!!

Saturday Silliness

A very good friend of mine, Henrietta, writes an "Ecommerce blog". On Saturdays she posts a video of something funny. Todays was really good, hop on over there, watch and leave a comment! Be sure and watch the expressions on everyone's faces!

Working on Saturday

Today we "mushed" the cooked pulp out of the pears I had cooked. Messy job! But then I am left with this


I know this pulp will have to cook for several hours on low heat before it's done. That roaster was HEAPED full of cored and quartered pears yesterday, now it's reduced to what you see! And if you're wondering, that's an 18 qt roaster!

Ken needs my help to replace a couple of outside windows, so I'm off to do that. Hopefully later I can sew.

Motivation Friday

I'm beat! The last few days I've spent canning. A VERY NICE LADY gave me two large boxes of pears. Now, I love pears. Last night Ken and I canned 18 pints. Today I made 10 various sized jars of pear/cranberry/pineapple/orange/ginger jam! That's a mouthful! I had a dab left over and I ate it as a jelly sandwich. Yummy! I can hardly wait to make some homemade bread to eat it on.

No, I usually don't turn my jars over while they're hot, but the cranberries want to float to the top so I'll keep turning these as they set up.

And I also cooked a whole electric roaster full of pears. I will make that into pear butter tomorrow. And I still have some pears left. Hmm--what can I make next??

Oh--you wanted to hear about how my QUILTY goals are coming?!

B/W stepping stones aren't all sew together yet. When they are all off the wall I will preview the 9 patches. I did get the D9P pastel blocks done. Still auditioning them. Sonja's windows, I think I will go sew on them now. I'm tired and they are so relaxing! What did you do this week??